18th century Hellfire clubs

[Road Rash]

Being a history buff, and a bit of a pervo (for other adults). What was up with 18th century Hellfire clubs. I have heard a very little about them. They were clubs of debauchery and perversion for the elite of society. I have heard that Ben Franklin at one time in his life frequented them.

A web search brought up several current Hellfire clubs in many western cities , but no history. Is this some private fraternity that continues today. Just curious. A friend asked.

[tomndebb]

The following link provides a sketch of the two incarnations (1750 & 1762) of the British Hellfire Club. It also provides citations for books that might provide more information. You have to scroll down looking for "Hellfire" and there are multiple segments dealing with it.

http://www.adherents.com/Na_192.html

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Tom~

[Little Nemo]

The Hell Fire Club was only a popular nickname for the group. Officially it was the Friars of St Francis of Wycombe. A Freemason named Sir Francis Dashwood apparently had become bored with the lodge meetings and decided that some devil worshiping and sado-masochistic sex would be just the thing to liven them up. And yes, Franklin was a member while he was living in England.

[Satan]

Does this mean that Franklyn was into devil-worship and perverted sex?

Man, they just didn't cover this shit in HS histoory class...

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Yer pal,
Satan

[Little Nemo]

Another thing they probably didn't mention in history class were the rumors that Franklin was working as a British agent during the Revolution. Supposedly he was playing both sides and it wasn't until the British lost that he came down firmly on the American side.

[Road Rash]

What amazes me is that the Freemasons were these wild and crazy hellraising party guys back then. Now there just old men who drive go-carts.